Rhodes: “It’s A Dream Come True”

Andy Rhodes says returning to the club as Oldham Athletic assistant manager is a ‘dream come true.’

The 53-year-old will be on the touchline alongside his former teammate Frankie Bunn, the pair played for the club in the late eighties as well as starting in the 1990 League Cup final.

“It’s fantastic, a dream come true,” Rhodes said on his new role.

“It’s great to be back, I can’t keep away from the place, I love it.

“I was here as a player in the great days with some really good people and I was fortunate to come back with Andy Ritchie and Iain Dowie as goalkeeping coach.

“The next progression in your life is to go the managerial side and fortunately Frank asked me to do that and I couldn’t wait to get here.”

The former Latics goalkeeper brings with him a wealth of knowledge and contacts in the game after holding a number of coaching roles at various football clubs.

Following a 15 year playing career in which he made over 400 senior appearances he returned to Latics and worked as goalkeeping coach under Andy Ritchie before working with Joe Royle at Ipswich Town as well as a spell at Preston North End.

He joins the club from Sheffield Wednesday where he held the role as Head of Goalkeeping since 2010.

Speaking to iFollow Latics Rhodes admitted it wasn’t easy for him to leave Sheffield Wednesday.

“I had a really good job at a wonderful football club and I had a long and successful time there.” He explains.

“The appeal was working with Frank and being here at Oldham Athletic.

“If it hadn’t have been Oldham Athletic I would have probably stayed still but it was Oldham and that was that.”